Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Diaper Free Babies?

Have you ever watched those Discovery Channel or Nova programs, heck, even No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain, that feature non-Western people and wondered how their babies go to the bathroom? Maybe it's just me, but I always wondered how those little babies didn't cover their moms, who were carrying them around on their back or on their hip, in their pee or, well... poop.

About three or four months ago, I was surfing online and stumbled upon this series of articles at Eco-Child's play: Baby Essentials That Aren't. As I read through the first three articles, I found myself saying, "yeah, this makes sense!" That is, until I hit the fourth article. "What do they mean diapers aren't essential?" My mind reverted back to the explosive diapers I changed when my brother and sister were born, added that to a picture of tribal women carrying diaper-less babies and came up with a disgusting picture of a messy, filthy baby and a very frazzled mom. Settling into the pillows on my bed, I continued to read, albeit with a big dose of skepticism.

In the article, after mentioning the well known cloth diapers, the writer suggested early potty training - from birth! "What?! How is that even possible?" I thought, scratching my head. I Googled "potty training babies" and then "E.C. babies," unsure about what EC meant (don't you hate when links in articles use abbreviations without saying what they mean first? It means Elimination Communication.) I found a site about Diaper Free Babies and then the very humourous free webs site about one mom's experience about going diaper free. I finally knew what all those women in Africa and South America did with their babies, they used elimination communication!

I've read various web sites stating that babies can cost upward of $5,000 in their first month of life! Geeze! After reading Eco-Child's Play's series, tons of web sites on home birthing, breastfeeding and now babies going diaper free, I can't understand how a family with a stay at home mom could pay $1,500, tops, for a new baby (obviously day-care will cost a fortune.) I've had a lot of experience with the ins and outs of babies as my brother was born the day before my 16th birthday and my sister was born when I was 18. I honestly don't think babies need a whole lot, so I don't know what would jack the price up if you cut out non-essentials (heated diaper wipe holder anybody?)

Just something to think about in the future when Dre and I are ready to start having some kiddos.

4 comments:

Hi Bella,It's great you've heard about EC now - it will color your views from now on so that when you do have your own babies, it'll seem the most normal thing - to me, and others (many many people!), NOT doing EC seems really really odd. How could one know a baby is going to poo and then LET them do it in their pants when it could go in a potty? Gotta take the diaper off anyway and replace it - might as well be the same diaper - and save the messy washing or extra waste.

Remeber to pop by my site when the time comes and join my free guide! I too read EVERYTING on EC before I had kids, so I was definitely going to do it from birth - and we have, twice now.

Charndra

P.S http://www.parttimediaperfree.com/ is the site - it'll aslso introduce you to the stories of many others who are part-time Baby Pottying (as that is what is really going on on the West - until diapers are not needed at various ages...)